PCG starts oil collection, places booms vs Bataan spill

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday said it started collecting oil to counter the spread of the spill coming from the sunken motor tanker Terra Nova off Bataan.

PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo told reporters in an interview that the oil spill was coming from the working fuel of the motor tanker and not from the 1.4 million liters of stored industrial oil.

“Kahit na kaunti lang ang nakitang oil, naglagay tayo ng dispersant at kinolekta natin yung emulsified oil. Ang ibig sabihin lang nun, wala pang tumatagas from the tank itself,” Balilo said.

(Although only a small amount of oil was found, we applied a dispersant and collected the emulsified oil. It just means that nothing is leaking from the tank itself.)

“May mga oil spill boom na doon sa area, may mga dispersant, may mga environmental protection personnel,” he added.

(There are oil spill booms in the area, there are dispersants, and there are environmental protection personnel.)

Balilo said the rescued tanker crewmen claimed that they secured the valve of the motor tanker before they abandoned ship.

PCG personnel met with representatives of the Terra Nova's shipping company and a salvor was contracted at 1 p.m. on Friday to discuss their plan and timeline for the siphoning operation.

“Base sa pag-aaral ng ating mga [Marine Environmental Protection] personnel, considering na 34 meters deep ang pinaglubugan ng barko, kayang matapos ang siphoning within seven days,” Balilo said.

(Based on the study of our Marine Environmental Protection personnel, considering that the ship sank 34 meters, the siphoning can be completed within seven days.)

Divers were on standby for underwater assessment as soon as the weather permitted, according to the PCG.

Worst-case scenario

Meanwhile, Limay town Mayor Nelson David said fishermen and residents were, so far, unaffected by the oil spill.

“Hindi pa naman po [kumalat]. Medyo maliit pa rin dahil 400 to 500 liters lang ng barko (It hasn't spread yet. It was still quite small because it was just 400 to 500 liters of fuel from the ship),” he said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

David added that the motor tanker's owner had not yet communicated with him. Only the salvage contractor had visited the area.

In a worst-case scenario in which the cargo of 1.4 million liters of industrial oil leaked from the motor tanker, Balilo said the waters of Parañaque, Manila, Navotas, Bulacan, and Pampanga would be affected.

“We are utilizing our manpower, mobilizing our resources, consulting with experts, and collaborating with LGUs and other stakeholders to avoid a marine environment catastrophe,” Balilo said.

An oil spill was monitored 5.6 nautical miles east off Lamao Point with an estimated coverage of two nautical miles, according to the PCG.

The MT Terra Nova departed Bataan for Iloilo when it capsized 3.6 nautical miles east off Lamao around 1:10 a.m.

According to the PCG, 16 of the 17 crew members were rescued, while one crewman was found dead. — DVM, GMA Integrated News